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If it's Catholic, we'll talk about it and probably sell it.Thu, 21 Feb 2019 05:58:58 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.3If it's Catholic, we'll talk about it and probably sell it.Aquinas and More, Ian RutherfordcleanAquinas and More, Ian Rutherfordwebmaster@aquinasandmore.comwebmaster@aquinasandmore.com (Aquinas and More, Ian Rutherford)2015 Aquinas and More Catholic GoodsIf it's Catholic, we'll talk about it and probably sell it.Behind the Catholic Counterhttp://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/itunesCover.jpghttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog
TV-G72191876https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/squirrly-seo/view/css/feed.cssSaint Benedict for Children – Behind the Catholic Counter Episode 25https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/saint-benedict-for-children-behind-the-catholic-counter-episode-25/
Mon, 09 Jul 2018 17:31:14 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10464https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/saint-benedict-for-children-behind-the-catholic-counter-episode-25/#respondhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/saint-benedict-for-children-behind-the-catholic-counter-episode-25/feed/0Welcome to episode 25 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

Welcome to episode 25 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

This week, I interviewed Brother John McKenzie, a Benedictine monk in Italy about his beautiful new children's book, The Life of St. Benedict. We'll have a special on the book that I'll mention at the end of the show.

The Life of Saint Benedict

There are three book reviews I'll mention now and put links to in the show notes.

First, the Curt Jester has a review of The Reality of God from St. Benedict Press about how science actually points to a creator.

Second, the Catholic Book Blogger has a very timely review of The Way of the Passion: Forty Stations with Jesus from the Daughters of Saint Paul.

Finally, CatholicMom.com has a review of a gripping conversion story called Loved as I Am.

Ian: Today I am joined by Brother John McKenzie, a monk with the order of Saint Benedict who is living in Norcia the home of Saint Benedict and he's written a wonderful children's book called the life of Saint Benedict. Welcome to the show.

John: Thank you Ian again for having me on, I know you're come from Colorado, Im here in Rome, Thank you for having me.

Ian: This is a wonderful book you've written for children, but before we start talking about the book. Can you tell me your vocation story, how did you end up as a monk in Rome after growing up in the U.S.?

John: Yeah, well that's a good question Ian, as I've said before you know I wake up every day and I've realize where I'm at and it is a surprise. It's one of the divine surprises that our Lord creates sometimes for people and I'm just a living witness of that so I'm really glad of that. I grew up in Detroit, Michigan for the most of my life. I went to catholic school there. I ended up moving to Saint Louis, Missouri where I spent about another 8-9 years going to middle school then high school and then I did about 2 years of college and that was, that time in college that I discovered that I had a religious vocation – you know I was planning to get married and all that, but something deeper inside was calling me to something else, you know and it took a while for me to realize that. I had a really good spiritual director who is a Jesuit and he had given me some information about this discernment house in Rome and how it helped him and helped others, and to find their vocation and I took him up on that offer to spend 2 years in Rome discerning. And it was during that time in Rome where living in the center if you want to say of Holy Mother Church, of the Catholic Church, it was there that I discovered even more profoundly my vocation to the monastic way of life versus other types.

Ian: Now, how did you come to that conclusion, because this is a very different life to be leading?

John: You're right, it's a very different life but at the same time it's a lifestyle so, in a way I've always been kind of driven towards a certain way of living and I think that religious life or the monastic way of life was what I was really looking for, If you see what I'm saying, so, but why did I do that? Why did I choose the monastic life? I think these are really good question that I do always ask myself and the three things that come up always is scripture: the monastic life tends to be very focused on meditating, reading and understanding the divine word of God and- you know through Lexio Divina, through the prayers of the psalms etc. and so the scriptures are very important, so that's one. Two would be the liturgy of liturgical life, living a day where it's being consecrated towards God and then there's the communal aspect, the community is very important so this calls me to go outside of myself that I- you know, get away from my self-centeredness and things like that, my ego to help or to be with my Brothers, my confreres and so- you know those 3 things really were the focal point or the reasons why I chose monastic life.

And not only that, it's the stability. You know we make a vow stability of life and we make us the stability of the vow to particular communities so I'm living with these guys for the rest of my life- you know, and that's a deep call to conversion, too, to step away from myself and to be with others and it's really helping me actually though I'm still very self-centered.

Ian: So you're living in Norcia, that's where Saint Benedict was born, correct?

John: Exactly, let's not forget Saint Scholastica- you know, his twin sister. Saint Benedict was born around 480 in Norcia. His father was actually from Rome. He ended up moving Saint Benedict, ended up moving to Rome as a young adult, as a young fellow to study grammar. But for most of his childhood he lived in Norcia and I just want to say, I want to emphasize that many people don't realize just how the monastic life is a childhood influencing Saint Benedict. You see, where I live in Norcia in the surrounding areas, there are many different hermitages where many different monks from Syria lived also. So I think Saint Benedict early on in his childhood would have known about these monks and hermits and probably would have visited them. I should also mention Scholastica as well consecrated her life to God, very early on, as Saint Gregory writes in the Dialogues in the Biography of Saint Benedict. So, you know, the town is a small town. It's known mainly for its cuisine-really good cuisine, sausage and things like that. But yes, he was born in Norcia, they lived there, Saint Scholastica ended up living a good portion of her consecrated life and then she followed Saint Benedict.

Ian: That's really interesting I didn't that there were already monasteries around the area where he was growing up, I though that he was kind of the founder of monasticism or is that just western monasticism?

John: Well we would say- we say founder of western monasticism but it's not proper in a way- you know. We say that because of Charlemagne's son Ludovico and Saint Benedict of Anian, who I would say Saint Benedict of Anian is the founder of the Benedictines, the spread of Benedictine Monasticism. He lived in the 9th century along with Louis the Pious. That's how the rule- the Benedictine rule kind of spread throughout the Western Empire.

The Roman Empire, because they wanted to unify the empire, and by unifying the empire they did it in 2 ways, well 3 ways through military might, through the missal, so that Catholics would use the one Roman missal and the 3rd thing that each monastery would use one particular rule. Before then, that is before this particular law came into being, each monastery would make up its rule, some of it based on the rule Saint Benedict, some of it base on the rule of Saint Columban, some of it base on some other obscure saint or what have you. So yes, Saint Benedict in that sense is the founder of Western Monasticism and the Benedictine Monasticism as we know it today.

Ian: Alright, well let's take a look at your book that you wrote, how did you come to write this book?

John: You know its really hard for me to say that I'm the author of the book. No, seriously Ian, because Saint Gregory has already done this. You know this is nothing new, the life of Saint Benedict is nothing new and it's just that I want to direct this towards a certain audience and I think it's most needed today. And what inspired me was the fact that I had a family once, in our gift shop; I was the manager of our gift shop a couple years ago and they came in looking for a book on the life of Saint Benedict for of their kids and we didn't have one. Then I thought, this is ridiculous because in the Life of Saint Benedict there's so much history you can bring out for a children's book. And I sat down with a good friend of mine and also novice of ours, Mark Brown, who is a really good artist and also really good historian on art so he knows how to fit things in their proper historical time and I said, “You know, we really have to do this book”. And you know I prayed about it. We visited the Benedictine sites. My own house in Norcia, Grosso Subiaco, Monte Casino, of course Rome, and we put it together. I spent some time in the monastery away on my own because most of the time when you're in your own house you have work all the time and do not have much time to write, you know. So the inspiration came from that. Simply just seeing that the kids, I think needed to know who Saint Benedict is, and I think we're doing that now.

Ian: Well the illustrations are wonderful in this book and they do evoke Italy with the kind of terracotta coloring throughout and they look like water colors, is that what they are?

John: Well you know Ian I'm sorry you're going to slip me up but I don't know exactly, I think they are watercolors actually- you know I have the originals right here in my room, but yeah we wanted colors, we want it because you know seeing some other lives of the saints for kids and as much respect to them and I have many inspirations from reading these lives but at the same time, I notice some of the artwork- you know just didn't seem like it was, like they were real, like they live and that these, these human beings were colorful, that they had life in them and that their surrounding areas also had colors and which I'm sure they did and that's what we wanted to bring to the plate so that- you know kids get attracted to this, kids need to know or kids are attracted just as we are to color and beautiful things and that's I think what Mark was able to do, of course he and I had to work together very closely- you know he spent the whole summer here in Norcia and here in Italy and we really work together about how we wanted to make this look so- you know, I mean we went through some really detailed things that you- perhaps don’t even pick up just by looking at the image but that's what wanted to focus on to make it lively make it attractive to the young eyes.

Ian: Well, it's nice look at these pictures because you get the initial impression of what it's about but then you look more carefully at it and you see different things in the pictures that your wouldn't notice at first glance. Like there's a picture here of Benedict in Subiaco and it looks like there's something climbing up the rope that he's, that's been let down with the basket of food on it. I'm not sure what it is but just these little details that are in the pictures.

John: That's right, that's a good point-you know that's, as Saint Gregory talks about, Saint Romanos' a monk who actually gave Saint Benedict the habit so yes- you know even in Subiaco there was a monastery just on top of this cave where Saint Benedict was living as a Hermit, there was already a monastery of monks- you know living way before Saint Benedict came. But yes, there was Saint Romanos giving Saint Benedict bread- you know he would send him down pieces of his own bread, of his own meal, so that Saint Benedict could have something to eat so I thought that was something that we wanted to add. Another little that a detail that you see in that picture actually is, you just- it's so slightly you see a face if you look into the actual cave to your left, you'll see like a little face and if you go to Subiaco, you have to get the private tour because it's in the closed off area of Subiaco, you can't go down there but of course being a monk, having friends that are monks- you know, you get the access right? So we go down there and this monk showed us actually the former friar there in Subiaco showed us this fresco of Christ and, that it came from the time of Saint Benedict. And that's something that you have to go to the sites and that was another aspect of our work that we wanted to make this book, not only just about Saint Benedict but a work of art too and a work of history. That's part of what Saint Gregory did when he was composing the life of Saint Benedict along with several other lives of the Saints here in Italy. He wanted to make these people real that they really lived. Okay when you look down at Subiaco now, you can't even imagine that Saint Benedict living in a cave, I mean it looks so nice- you know you have a lake really by, it like he's living the nice life.

Ian: It is very picturesque.

John: Yeah very picturesque, but if you go down and you see kind of the interior of the cave and all of its start to make sense.

Ian: So, what would a child have of interest in a monk living in a monastery. it seems almost an alien thing for a child to have an interest in?

John: I understand that Ian, and that's something that we work with it, that we've had oblates- you know we have about 80 Italian oblates and there were two years in a row where we had their kids. They just drop their kids off for a week, and myself and another monk were supposed to take care them. Of course they had an adult chaperon as well but you know they spend about a week with us and it was like towards the middle of the week, when I thought why did they drop their kids off here in our monastery? Because they're making so much noise, they don't get it at all but towards the end of their stay, I remember there was a young fellow who- you know had been dealing somethings with his parents and etc. and we had a nice talk and he was able to understand a little bit about himself and by understanding a little bit about himself, he could understand a little bit about God and I think that's what the monastic life offers, not just the young people but for everyone. You know those are the three precepts of monastic life, know yourself, to conquer yourself so that you can give yourself to God as Saint John Cashen said, and so I think little ones can do that because they receive things simply- you know, in the simple form, very frank, no holding back and that's something that I think us adults have to learn but my thing is at this point is I want to focus on the kids because we live in a time where, the kids are really threatened with regards to understanding and learning the faith and I want to cultivate in my little small area, once again that sense of faith for young ones because they welcome it and if it's cultivated at the young age, it can continue on and they don't need to become monks- you know I'm not here to make a crusade – monks and things like that you know they live their life, they choose as they want. But I hope that's what they leave out with the same thing as that young fellow that I'm thinking of now that he left off with knowing himself and therefore knowing God and therefore being able to conquer himself.

Ian: Now the Monastic life is a little more quiet than daily life outside of the monastery, what is the day like at your monastery?

John: Oh my gosh! Ian, you mention a really good thing you know, here in Norcia I'm actually now in Rome I'm at San Anselmo which is kind of the headquarters of the Benedictine Order but it's also a college so- you know my day is, a bit more elastic if you want to say, as a student, and I have some other various works here. But in Norcia, we- if you pick up the rule that's basically the- what we follow so we have masses in the early morning around 4 am on Sundays and Feast days, as Saint Benedict says, you know you anticipate it sometime because of the longer reading and so we have it at 3:45, so we're pretty up- we're up pretty early,

Ian: Definitely

John: And then from 4 am then we have after masses we have a time to pray, Lectio, Meditate on the scriptures or some types of spiritual writing or simply praying in the chapel or in yourself. Then there's lauds which is at 6 am and then we have the priest offer their masses and then we have the office of prime at 7:45 and then we have a short chapter where the whole community gets together just for daily reading of the rule, and a bit of the martyrology and then at 9:40 we have Terce which is the other hour then we have our Conventual mass which is at 10. 12:45 we have the hour of Sext which is the sixth hour of the day and then the 9th hour at 2:45 and then vespers in the evening and then Compline. I know it sounds like and then, and then, and then…

Ian: It's a day full of prayer.

John: It's a day full of liturgical prayer and it should be day for personal prayer too, you have to make the distinction. Also to, we are in the time of our fasting too, so right now we eat at 3 o'clock starting tomorrow which is Ash Wednesday, we'll be eating at the- 5 5:30 which is also prescribe in the rule that during the Lenten season, the monks postpone dinner until after vespers so we'll anticipate vespers a bit but we also keep serving fast during a Lenten season and the pre-Lenten season which is, it's just simply what’s prescribed in the rule, when he says about fasting and that what he do, and it sounds like I'd sounds like all they just- you know these monks are just like angels or something’s, that's not the case. We do a lot- you know all, in between of all that time there's so much going on. There's people to see, people to talk to. There are classes that the younger monks are taking, there's our brewery, we have a monastic brewery that we operate that the monks operates themselves, making it, producing it, marketing it, all those types of things. We have our kitchen. There's a monk in the kitchen or couple of monks that are helping in the kitchen. There's always things going on, I mean from the morning to the evening- you know there's a lot to do.

Ian: So if somebody wanted to find out about your monastery, where could they look?

John: They can go to our website which is osbnorcia.org.

Ian: Okay now at the beginning of the show, you had mentioned that the pope was coming to visit tomorrow. Now is he coming to your place in Rome?

John: Yes! Yes that's right he comes once a year, the pope since Paul the VI has come here to Saint Anselmo for the firstst part, the beginning part of the Penitential Rite of Ash Wednesday, so he'll come and actually I’m one of the cantors so i'll be pretty close to the pope – you know I might run over and get his autograph but he has his body guards and stuff like that so I don't want to make a scene tomorrow. but if you see some monk kind of going up and chasing them away that's me. Then we have nice procession on the Aventet had over to Saint Sabina which is the headquarters for the Dominican and that's where he imposes the ashes on the College of Cardinals or some member of the College of Cardinals and then there's the mass, and then we begin Lent. So it's a blessing to be in the presence of the Holy Father and also participate in his mass. You know as bishop of Rome, here in Rome and is diocese, it's a blessing when he comes.

Ian: Thank you so much for taking the time this evening for you talked about your new book The Life of Saint Benedict for children, I think it's wonderful and my kids keep asking me if they can look at the copy if gotten on my desk so, I'm going to turn it over to them now.

John: Okay good, well once again I want to thank you, Ian, I want to thank- you know so much Ignatius Press and Magnificat for helping out on this project.

My kids have loved reading this book and I know yours will too. You can get 20% off when you order at aquinasandmore.com through March 27th.

Thank you for joining me today. For links to the books and websites we discussed today, see the show notes. Please subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and comment on this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

I am moving the podcast to Monday starting this following week so our next episode is only a few days away. I'll be talking with Charlie McKinnie about Sophia Institute's collaboration with NBC on the A.D. miniseries that airs begins on Easter Sunday. We'll have some great giveaways with that interview as well.

At Aquinasandmore.com we are in the business of strengthening your Faith through the products we sell. I look forward to having you shop with us where good faith is guaranteed. God bless.

]]>Welcome to episode 25 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts.

Welcome to episode 25 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
This week, I interviewed Brother John McKenzie, a Benedictine monk in Italy about his beautiful new children's book, The Life of St. Benedict. We'll have a special on the book that I'll mention at the end of the show.

There are three book reviews I'll mention now and put links to in the show notes.
First, the Curt Jester has a review of The Reality of God from St. Benedict Press about how science actually points to a creator.
Second, the Catholic Book Blogger has a very timely review of The Way of the Passion: Forty Stations with Jesus from the Daughters of Saint Paul.
Finally, CatholicMom.com has a review of a gripping conversion story called Loved as I Am.
Also, if you want a little controversy, check out Steven Greydanus's article about the proper way to read the Chronicles of Narnia. What do you think is the proper way?
Okay, on to the interview.

Ian: Today I am joined by Brother John McKenzie, a monk with the order of Saint Benedict who is living in Norcia the home of Saint Benedict and he's written a wonderful children's book called the life of Saint Benedict. Welcome to the show.
John: Thank you Ian again for having me on, I know you're come from Colorado, Im here in Rome, Thank you for having me.
Ian: This is a wonderful book you've written for children, but before we start talking about the book. Can you tell me your vocation story, how did you end up as a monk in Rome after growing up in the U.S.?
John: Yeah, well that's a good question Ian, as I've said before you know I wake up every day and I've realize where I'm at and it is a surprise. It's one of the divine surprises that our Lord creates sometimes for people and I'm just a living witness of that so I'm really glad of that. I grew up in Detroit, Michigan for the most of my life. I went to catholic school there. I ended up moving to Saint Louis, Missouri where I spent about another 8-9 years going to middle school then high school and then I did about 2 years of college and that was, that time in college that I discovered that I had a religious vocation – you know I was planning to get married and all that, but something deeper inside was calling me to something else, you know and it took a while for me to realize that. I had a really good spiritual director who is a Jesuit and he had given me some information about this discernment house in Rome and how it helped him and helped others, and to find their vocation and I took him up on that offer to spend 2 years in Rome discerning. And it was during that time in Rome where living in the center if you want to say of Holy Mother Church, of the Catholic Church, it was there that I discovered even more profoundly my vocation to the monastic way of life versus other types.
Ian: Now,]]>Ianclean24:2110464Gifts of the Visitation – Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast Episode 32https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/gifts-of-the-visitation-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-episode-32/
Wed, 31 May 2017 12:31:32 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10783https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/gifts-of-the-visitation-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-episode-32/#commentshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/gifts-of-the-visitation-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-episode-32/feed/3G.K. Chesterton's birthday was last week. I found a couple of quotes about his praise of beer. I also noticed that two Catholic authors both published books this month that involved drinking. Hmmmmm.
This week I interviewed Denise Bossert about her new book, Gifts of the Visitation - Nine Spiritual Encounters With Mary and Elizabeth.

Show Topics:

G.K. Chesterton's birthday was last week. I found a couple of quotes about his praise of beer. I also noticed that two Catholic authors both published books this month that involved drinking. Hmmmmm.

Gifts of the Visitation – Nine Spiritual Encounters With Mary and Elizabeth

Denise's does a wonderful job of describing her conversion and relating it to Mary's journey to visit Elizabeth. She also explains how to bring yourself closer to holiness through her reflections on Mary's personal qualities.

]]>G.K. Chesterton's birthday was last week. I found a couple of quotes about his praise of beer. I also noticed that two Catholic authors both published books this month that involved drinking. Hmmmmm. - This week I interviewed Denise Bossert about her ...

Show Topics:
G.K. Chesterton's birthday was last week. I found a couple of quotes about his praise of beer. I also noticed that two Catholic authors both published books this month that involved drinking. Hmmmmm.
This week I interviewed Denise Bossert about her new book, Gifts of the Visitation – Nine Spiritual Encounters With Mary and Elizabeth.
Denise's does a wonderful job of describing her conversion and relating it to Mary's journey to visit Elizabeth. She also explains how to bring yourself closer to holiness through her reflections on Mary's personal qualities.a Rafflecopter giveaway

]]>Ianclean27:0710783How to be Holy – Podcast Interview with Dr. Peter Kreefthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/how-to-be-holy-podcast-interview-with-dr-peter-kreeft/
Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:19:36 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11845https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/how-to-be-holy-podcast-interview-with-dr-peter-kreeft/#respondhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/how-to-be-holy-podcast-interview-with-dr-peter-kreeft/feed/0You all know how the Bible says “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”, right? Actually, it doesn't. That is a quote popularize by Sir Francis Bacon, Anglican and anti-Catholic. What the Bible does say is that we are all to strive for holiness. And there is the rub. Being holy isn't easy. Heck, sticking with your …

You all know how the Bible says “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”, right?

Actually, it doesn't. That is a quote popularize by Sir Francis Bacon, Anglican and anti-Catholic.

What the Bible does say is that we are all to strive for holiness.

And there is the rub. Being holy isn't easy. Heck, sticking with your Lenten resolutions may sometimes seem like an insurmountable challenge.

And yet, if you want to get to Heaven, holiness is a pretty important requirement.

So what should you do?

You could get a library of books by spiritual masters:

Dark Night of the Soul

Spiritual Combat

Interior Castle

Story of a Soul

Imitation of Christ

Abandonment to Divine Providence

While I think you should eventually read many or all of these books, they may not be the best starting point on your quest for holiness.

Instead, I recommend a book by Peter Kreeft. Dr. Kreeft has been writing books for you and me for decades.

He's shown how You can understand the Bible

He's summarized the Summa for non-Thomists

He's explained Angels (and Demons)

He's taught beginners like us how to pray

In his latest book, How to Be Holy – First Steps in Becoming a Saint Dr. Kreeft explains:

You all know how the Bible says “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”, right? Actually, it doesn't. That is a quote popularize by Sir Francis Bacon, Anglican and anti-Catholic. What the Bible does say is that we are all to strive for holiness.

You all know how the Bible says “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”, right?

Actually, it doesn't. That is a quote popularize by Sir Francis Bacon, Anglican and anti-Catholic.

What the Bible does say is that we are all to strive for holiness.

And there is the rub. Being holy isn't easy. Heck, sticking with your Lenten resolutions may sometimes seem like an insurmountable challenge.

And yet, if you want to get to Heaven, holiness is a pretty important requirement.

While I think you should eventually read many or all of these books, they may not be the best starting point on your quest for holiness.

Instead, I recommend a book by Peter Kreeft. Dr. Kreeft has been writing books for you and me for decades.

* He's shown how You can understand the Bible
* He's summarized the Summa for non-Thomists
* He's explained Angels (and Demons)
* He's taught beginners like us how to pray

In his latest book, How to Be Holy – First Steps in Becoming a Saint Dr. Kreeft explains:

* the meaning of life.
* why belief doesn't make us holy (and what does).
* the main obstacle to holiness and how to overcome it.
* how to “get back to nature” – the right way.
* why you can't bypass suffering if you want to be holy.

]]>Ianclean15:0611845Finding God in the silence of contemplation – New Behind the Catholic Counter Podcasthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/finding-god-in-the-silence-of-contemplation-new-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast/
Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:20:17 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11782https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/finding-god-in-the-silence-of-contemplation-new-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast/#respondhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/finding-god-in-the-silence-of-contemplation-new-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast/feed/0Contemplative prayer is not easy. Even people who you would expect to be "professionals" at contemplative prayer, nuns and priests, say that you can't every get really good at it.

Contemplative prayer is not easy. Even people who you would expect to be “professionals” at contemplative prayer, nuns and priests, say that you can't every get really good at it.

The Contemplative Hunger

If that's the case, why should we even try? Father Haggerty talks with me about the importance of contemplative prayer for everyone.

Contemplative prayer is not easy. Even people who you would expect to be "professionals" at contemplative prayer, nuns and priests, say that you can't every get really good at it.

Contemplative prayer is not easy. Even people who you would expect to be “professionals” at contemplative prayer, nuns and priests, say that you can't every get really good at it.
If that's the case, why should we even try? Father Haggerty talks with me about the importance of contemplative prayer for everyone.

]]>Ianclean25:0311782Thieves. Gang members. Drug dealers. Evangelists.https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/thieves-gang-members-drug-dealers-evangelists/
Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:25:56 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11717https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/thieves-gang-members-drug-dealers-evangelists/#commentshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/thieves-gang-members-drug-dealers-evangelists/feed/1Meet the St. Paul Street Evangelizers. Started by Steve Dawson, the street evangelizers have spent the last four years spreading the gospel on street corners around the world.

Meet the St. Paul Street Evangelizers. Started by Steve Dawson, the street evangelizers have spent the last four years spreading the gospel on street corners around the world.

The evangelists are regular Catholics committed to sharing the Good News. But some of them took a little extra grace to get there. The stories in Catholic Street Evangelizers are stories of divine intervention, conversion and reaching out to those in need.

Listen as I talk with Steve Dawson about:

The origins of St. Paul Street Evangelizers

The training you have to go through to get involved (it's easier than you think)

]]>Meet the St. Paul Street Evangelizers. Started by Steve Dawson, the street evangelizers have spent the last four years spreading the gospel on street corners around the world.

Meet the St. Paul Street Evangelizers. Started by Steve Dawson, the street evangelizers have spent the last four years spreading the gospel on street corners around the world.
The evangelists are regular Catholics committed to sharing the Good News. But some of them took a little extra grace to get there. The stories in Catholic Street Evangelizers are stories of divine intervention, conversion and reaching out to those in need.
Listen as I talk with Steve Dawson about:

* The origins of St. Paul Street Evangelizers
* The training you have to go through to get involved (it's easier than you think)
* The amazing stories of some of its members (you'll need to get the book for most of them)
* What happened when one of the evangelizers went to meet with the head of a gang in Chicago.

For the next week, save 20% on an inspiring book that reads like pulp fiction – except that it's true:

* The gang leader shot nine times who now hands out Miraculous Medals
* The murderer who found forgiveness and now shares the Good News
* The family that found a renewed zeal for the Faith because of a Baptist boyfriend
* How teens in Flint, Michigan are spreading the Faith and praying for hundreds of intentions a week

]]>Ianclean32:3711717Remembering God’s Mercy – Finding healing in Christ with Dawn Edenhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/remembering-gods-mercy-finding-healing-in-christ-with-dawn-eden/
Tue, 09 Feb 2016 19:25:59 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11637https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/remembering-gods-mercy-finding-healing-in-christ-with-dawn-eden/#commentshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/remembering-gods-mercy-finding-healing-in-christ-with-dawn-eden/feed/2How do you find true healing for traumatic events in your life? Burying the memories only leads to more pain down the road.
Dawn Eden has been reflecting on this topic for many years as she is a survivor of child abuse. Her book, My Peace I Give You addresses this topic specifically.

How do you find true healing for traumatic events in your life? Burying the memories only leads to more pain down the road.

Dawn Eden has been reflecting on this topic for many years as she is a survivor of child abuse. Her book, My Peace I Give You addresses this topic specifically.

In her new book, Dawn looks at the broader topics of healing and peace and how she found both through prayer. Prayer is about remembering – both the blessings in the past and pain from the past so that you can see how God is working in your life today.

Dawn uses stories from Pope Francis' life as well as St. Peter Faber's writings to show how we can all experience true healing in Christ.

]]>How do you find true healing for traumatic events in your life? Burying the memories only leads to more pain down the road. - Dawn Eden has been reflecting on this topic for many years as she is a survivor of child abuse. Her book,

How do you find true healing for traumatic events in your life? Burying the memories only leads to more pain down the road.
Dawn Eden has been reflecting on this topic for many years as she is a survivor of child abuse. Her book, My Peace I Give You addresses this topic specifically.
In her new book, Dawn looks at the broader topics of healing and peace and how she found both through prayer. Prayer is about remembering – both the blessings in the past and pain from the past so that you can see how God is working in your life today.
Dawn uses stories from Pope Francis' life as well as St. Peter Faber's writings to show how we can all experience true healing in Christ.
Listen to the full interview and get a copy of Dawn's new book Remembering God's Mercy at 20% off through 2/16.
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]]>Ianclean24:5811637Living the Divine Mercy for Moms – New Aquinas and More Podcasthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/living-the-divine-mercy-for-moms-new-aquinas-and-more-podcast/
Tue, 02 Feb 2016 11:00:10 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11583https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/living-the-divine-mercy-for-moms-new-aquinas-and-more-podcast/#respondhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/living-the-divine-mercy-for-moms-new-aquinas-and-more-podcast/feed/0Living the Divine Mercy and carrying out works of mercy as a mom with smaller children can be a challenge. Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet have written a practical guide for moms full of ideas for doing works of mercy as a family.

Living the Divine Mercy and carrying out works of mercy as a mom with smaller children can be a challenge. Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet have written a practical guide for moms full of ideas for doing works of mercy as a family.

Listen to our interview and also get some tips on what to do for Lent. We're only eight days away!

]]>Living the Divine Mercy and carrying out works of mercy as a mom with smaller children can be a challenge. Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet have written a practical guide for moms full of ideas for doing works of mercy as a family.

Living the Divine Mercy and carrying out works of mercy as a mom with smaller children can be a challenge. Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet have written a practical guide for moms full of ideas for doing works of mercy as a family.
Listen to our interview and also get some tips on what to do for Lent. We're only eight days away!Save 20% off through 2/9
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]]>Ianclean23:3911583A Special Devotion for Your Lenthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/a-special-devotion-for-your-lent/
Tue, 26 Jan 2016 14:48:26 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11519https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/a-special-devotion-for-your-lent/#respondhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/a-special-devotion-for-your-lent/feed/0The Stations of the Cross are the Lenten devotion. Why not combine them with reflections on the Eucharist?
Stations of the Cross With the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus is a wonderful devotional to pray before or after Mass. Listen as I talk with Father James Kubicki, director of the Apostleship of Prayer, about this new Lenten resource.

The Stations of the Cross are the Lenten devotion. Why not combine them with reflections on the Eucharist?

Stations of the Cross With the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus is a wonderful devotional to pray before or after Mass. Listen as I talk with Father James Kubicki, director of the Apostleship of Prayer, about this new Lenten resource.

The Stations of the Cross are the Lenten devotion. Why not combine them with reflections on the Eucharist? - Stations of the Cross With the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus is a wonderful devotional to pray before or after Mass.

The Stations of the Cross are the Lenten devotion. Why not combine them with reflections on the Eucharist?
Stations of the Cross With the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus is a wonderful devotional to pray before or after Mass. Listen as I talk with Father James Kubicki, director of the Apostleship of Prayer, about this new Lenten resource.Save 20% through February 1st.
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]]>Ianclean42:2711519Do you REALLY understand the Divine Mercy? New Podcast Episodehttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/do-you-really-understand-the-divine-mercy-new-podcast-episode/
Wed, 20 Jan 2016 04:19:53 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11454https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/do-you-really-understand-the-divine-mercy-new-podcast-episode/#commentshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/do-you-really-understand-the-divine-mercy-new-podcast-episode/feed/2The Divine Mercy devotion seems pretty simple but is really deep theology about the nature of God and the His relationship with us. Listen to Vinny Flynn explain the secrets of the Divine Mercy to you.

The Divine Mercy devotion seems pretty simple but is really deep theology about the nature of God and the His relationship with us.

Don't feel bad if your knowledge of the Divine Mercy is limited to just the chaplet. Knowing and regularly praying the chaplet is a fine place to start. Really, you could devote your whole life to learning more about the Divine Mercy and still not “know it all”.

Listen to my interview with Vinny Flynn, one of the foremost experts on the devotion, as we discuss what Divine Mercy is all about.

]]>The Divine Mercy devotion seems pretty simple but is really deep theology about the nature of God and the His relationship with us. Listen to Vinny Flynn explain the secrets of the Divine Mercy to you.

The Divine Mercy devotion seems pretty simple but is really deep theology about the nature of God and the His relationship with us.

Don't feel bad if your knowledge of the Divine Mercy is limited to just the chaplet. Knowing and regularly praying the chaplet is a fine place to start. Really, you could devote your whole life to learning more about the Divine Mercy and still not “know it all”.

Listen to my interview with Vinny Flynn, one of the foremost experts on the devotion, as we discuss what Divine Mercy is all about.

]]>Ianclean23:3811454When sufferings and blessings are mixed – Donna Marie Cooper O’Boylehttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/when-sufferings-and-blessings-are-mixed-donna-marie-cooper-oboyle/
Sat, 19 Dec 2015 05:50:07 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11395https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/when-sufferings-and-blessings-are-mixed-donna-marie-cooper-oboyle/#commentshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/when-sufferings-and-blessings-are-mixed-donna-marie-cooper-oboyle/feed/1Donna Marie's life reads like an adventure story - kidnaps, escapes, life threatening illness, meeting saints and more. Through it all she found that Jesus was blessing her life and giving her strength.
Join us as we talk about Donna's new book, The Kiss of Jesus.

Donna Marie's life reads like an adventure story – kidnaps, escapes, life threatening illness, meeting saints and more. Through it all she found that Jesus was blessing her life and giving her strength.

Donna Marie's life reads like an adventure story - kidnaps, escapes, life threatening illness, meeting saints and more. Through it all she found that Jesus was blessing her life and giving her strength. - Join us as we talk about Donna's new book,

Donna Marie's life reads like an adventure story – kidnaps, escapes, life threatening illness, meeting saints and more. Through it all she found that Jesus was blessing her life and giving her strength.
Join us as we talk about Donna's new book, The Kiss of Jesus.
Show links

]]>Ianclean34:2911395Badass Saints with Maria Morena Johnsonhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/badass-saints-with-maria-morena-johnson/
Tue, 08 Dec 2015 14:00:51 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11350While all saints are worthy of imitation, some of them were a little more daring than others. Maria Morena Johnson shares some of her favorites in our latest podcast episode.While all saints are worthy of imitation, some of them were a little more daring than others. Maria Morena Johnson shares some of her favorites in our latest podcast episode.

While all saints are worthy of imitation, some of them were a little more daring than others. Maria Morena Johnson shares some of her favorites in our latest podcast episode.
Also, check out my podcast recommendations for other great Catholic podcasts.

]]>Ianclean21:3111350Advent activities for your family with Holy Heroeshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/advent-activities-for-your-family-with-holy-heroes/
Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:59:05 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11317It's almost Advent so I want to introduce you to Advent Adventures from the creators of the Glory Story saints. The Advent Adventures are perfect daily activities for your children to keep them involved in the Advent season and get them ready for Christmas.It's almost Advent so I want to introduce you to Advent Adventures from the creators of the Glory Story saints. The Advent Adventures are perfect daily activities for your children to keep them involved in the Advent season and get them ready for Chris...

It's almost Advent so I want to introduce you to Advent Adventures from the creators of the Glory Story saints. The Advent Adventures are perfect daily activities for your children to keep them involved in the Advent season and get them ready for Christmas.
I also offer five recommendations for Advent activities for your family.
And save 20% off all Glory Story CDs through Christmas! These CDs are the perfect stocking stuffer for your kids.

]]>Ianclean21:2411317How to Bring Your Children Back to the Churchhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/how-to-bring-your-children-back-to-the-church/
Thu, 12 Nov 2015 15:00:41 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11304It's something we all dread as parents - having one of our children leave the Church. Brandon Vogt is a convert TO the Catholic Faith who is an author and speaker. When he talks at a church he is regularly asked for advice on how to bring back children who have left.It's something we all dread as parents - having one of our children leave the Church. Brandon Vogt is a convert TO the Catholic Faith who is an author and speaker. When he talks at a church he is regularly asked for advice on how to bring back children...

It's something we all dread as parents – having one of our children leave the Church. Brandon Vogt is a convert TO the Catholic Faith who is an author and speaker. When he talks at a church he is regularly asked for advice on how to bring back children who have left.
The Return Project is a book and other tools to help parents bring their children back to the Catholic Church. Listen as Brandon and I talk about this exciting new program.a Rafflecopter giveaway
Show links

]]>Ianclean23:531130411 Cardinals Speak About Marriage and the Family – New Podcasthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/11-cardinals-speak-about-marriage-and-the-family-new-podcast/
Tue, 03 Nov 2015 21:07:11 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11290During the recent Synod on the Family, we heard a lot about the symptoms of the marriage sickness our society is suffering from but not as much about the nature of marriage and ways to help strengthen existing marriages.During the recent Synod on the Family, we heard a lot about the symptoms of the marriage sickness our society is suffering from but not as much about the nature of marriage and ways to help strengthen existing marriages.

During the recent Synod on the Family, we heard a lot about the symptoms of the marriage sickness our society is suffering from but not as much about the nature of marriage and ways to help strengthen existing marriages.
In Eleven Cardinals Speak on Marriage and the Family, a new book from Ignatius Press, 11 Cardinals from all over the world offer their perspectives on what marriage really is and how to help families today.
Listen as I interview Carl Olson about this critical resource for marriage discussions today.

]]>Ianclean32:1411290How can we bring healing to those with homosexual temptations without driving them away? Behind the Catholic Counter Podcasthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/how-can-we-bring-healing-to-those-with-homosexual-temptations-without-driving-them-away-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast/
Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:08:03 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11228Homosexual behavior has surprisingly becoming the defining issue of the decade when only a few years ago the whole idea of homosexual marriage was rejected by the vast majority of Americans.
Now, anyone who doesn't applaud homosexual behavior is labeled a bigot and hater. How should the Church respond and help those struggling with these temptations to find peace and salvation without turning them away or sacrificing the Truth?Homosexual behavior has surprisingly becoming the defining issue of the decade when only a few years ago the whole idea of homosexual marriage was rejected by the vast majority of Americans. - Now, anyone who doesn't applaud homosexual behavior is lab...

Homosexual behavior has surprisingly becoming the defining issue of the decade when only a few years ago the whole idea of homosexual marriage was rejected by the vast majority of Americans.
Now, anyone who doesn't applaud homosexual behavior is labeled a bigot and hater. How should the Church respond and help those struggling with these temptations to find peace and salvation without turning them away or sacrificing the Truth?
Listen as Dr. Janet Smith discusses how to show mercy and at the same time share the Truth in Living the Truth in Love.
This book is a must-have for parishes and individuals who minister to those with homosexual inclinations.

]]>Ianclean37:2211228Yes, Men, You Do Belong In the Church – Behind the Catholic Counter Podcasthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/yes-men-you-do-belong-in-the-church-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast/
Wed, 14 Oct 2015 22:40:11 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11218While there are many books written about specific aspects of spirituality for Catholic Men and the Protestants have been writing about it for a long time in books such as Wild at Heart, there isn't much material that tries to present a full vision of Catholic male spirituality. Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers means to correct that with his new book, Behold the Man - A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality.While there are many books written about specific aspects of spirituality for Catholic Men and the Protestants have been writing about it for a long time in books such as Wild at Heart, there isn't much material that tries to present a full vision of C...

While there are many books written about specific aspects of spirituality for Catholic Men and the Protestants have been writing about it for a long time in books such as Wild at Heart, there isn't much material that tries to present a full vision of Catholic male spirituality. Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers means to correct that with his new book, Behold the Man – A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality.

Listen as Deacon Harold talks about men's place in the covenant, fatherhood, marriage and work. This book belongs in every parish and should be used as the basis for men's groups.

]]>Ianclean34:5711218Eight Ways Catholicism Can Bring You Happinesshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/eight-ways-catholicism-can-bring-you-happiness/
Tue, 29 Sep 2015 20:17:53 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11197Psychology and religion are regularly at odds but Dr. Christopher Kaczor shows how the study of positive psychology actually validates that the practice of the Catholic Faith empirically makes people happier!Psychology and religion are regularly at odds but Dr. Christopher Kaczor shows how the study of positive psychology actually validates that the practice of the Catholic Faith empirically makes people happier!

Psychology and religion are regularly at odds but Dr. Christopher Kaczor shows how the study of positive psychology actually validates that the practice of the Catholic Faith empirically makes people happier!Listen in as Dr. Kaczor and I discuss The Gospel of Happiness: psychology, the true meaning of happiness and ways that your Catholic Faith (when you actually practice it) can make you happier.

]]>Ianclean21:5611197Live a Simpler Life and Get Closer to God With Marcus Grodihttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/live-a-simpler-life-and-get-closer-to-god-with-marcus-grodi/
Tue, 22 Sep 2015 19:07:10 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11180This week, let's kick back on the front porch swing, spend some time gazing across the rolling hills of Ohio and talk with Marcus Grodi about how living a simpler life can bring you closer to God.This week, let's kick back on the front porch swing, spend some time gazing across the rolling hills of Ohio and talk with Marcus Grodi about how living a simpler life can bring you closer to God.

This week, let's kick back on the front porch swing, spend some time gazing across the rolling hills of Ohio and talk with Marcus Grodi about how living a simpler life can bring you closer to God.
In Life From Our Land, Marcus talks about moving to the country and how life there has proven to be both simpler and more complex but has led his family closer to God in ways they never expected.
He also offers concrete tips for YOU to use to simplify your life, wherever you happen to be.
Also, I talk about our experience living in the country and the Pope's visit to the United States.
Be sure to enter our drawing for a free copy of Marcus' book and also get our pre-order price of 20% off on Life From Our Land until October fourth, 2015.a Rafflecopter giveaway
Podcast Links

]]>Ianclean34:3011180Take a pilgrimage with Our Lady, Undoer of Knotshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/take-a-pilgrimage-with-our-lady-undoer-of-knots/
Tue, 15 Sep 2015 12:00:21 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11138When Pope Francis traveled to the Holy Land in 2014, Marge Fenelon had the privilege of being part of the press corp traveling with him.
She turned the trip into a healing meditation on Our Lady, Undoer of Knots.
Listen to her experience.When Pope Francis traveled to the Holy Land in 2014, Marge Fenelon had the privilege of being part of the press corp traveling with him. - She turned the trip into a healing meditation on Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. - Listen to her experience.

]]>Ianclean54:4611138Are you going to the World Meeting of Families?https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/are-you-going-to-the-world-meeting-of-families/
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:30:45 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11117These are my show notes for the episode. Please don't pay attention to grammar and punctuation. World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia September 22-25 Happens every three years since 1994 Started by Pope John Paul II Theme this year chosen by Pope Francis: Love Is Our Mission: the Family Fully Alive. Archbishop Chaput explained the theme …These are my show notes for the episode. Please don't pay attention to grammar and punctuation. World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia September 22-25 Happens every three years since 1994 Started by Pope John Paul II Theme this year chosen by Pope F...

These are my show notes for the episode. Please don't pay attention to grammar and punctuation.World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia September 22-25

* Happens every three years since 1994
* Started by Pope John Paul II
* Theme this year chosen by Pope Francis: Love Is Our Mission: the Family Fully Alive.

Archbishop Chaput explained the theme in the welcome letter for the congress: Our theme, “Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive” was inspired by the early Church Father, St. Irenaeus, who wrote “the Glory of God is man fully alive.” The glory of men and women is their capacity to love as God loves – and no better means exists to teach the meaning of love than the family. His Holiness, Pope Francis also inspired the theme. He embodies the message of mercy, joy and love at the heart of the Gospel.

Pope Francis will NOT be there for the congress but will be attending events the two following days, including a papal Mass. Tickets for the Mass were gone in 30 seconds.

The speaker line-up looks very solid. Here are a few and I'm sorry I can't list them all but there are dozens.

I wish I could attend the congress, both for the speakers I know and for some of these non-Catholic speakers. I am interested about how they view the current state of the family and what they see as solutions for repairing the destruction we see all around us.

Since most of you aren't going to the World Meeting of Families and won't get to hear all of the great speakers, I want to spend the rest of the show talking about some of the great books and DVDs in our Aquinas and More Marriage Toolbox. We hand-picked all of these products because they will help you and your children to better understand marriage and family and also help you to be evangelists.

Basics – sex and marriage – If you truly want to be able to understand and defend a position, you need to get a clear grasp on the foundational reasons behind it. There is very little actual debate about anything these days because it has all been reduced to Internet memes and name calling. Unfortunately, the truth is always harder to explain than lies are to spread. The purpose of this first group of books is to build a foundation showing what sex and marriage are for so that other things, like opposition contraception and the importance of family can be understood and explained later.

On the Meaning of SexWhat ...]]>Ianclean18:3811117Do you pay attention when you talk to mom?https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/do-you-pay-attention-when-you-talk-to-mom/
Mon, 31 Aug 2015 16:49:29 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11083It is so easy to burn through the rosary instead of taking the time to actually think about what you are praying. This week, Sarah Reinhard shows us how to pray the Hail Mary Word By Word with the help of over thirty Catholic authors who offer their reflections on every word of the prayer. Who knew how much meaning can be found, not just once, but twice, in the word "the"!It is so easy to burn through the rosary instead of taking the time to actually think about what you are praying. This week, Sarah Reinhard shows us how to pray the Hail Mary Word By Word with the help of over thirty Catholic authors who offer their re...

It is so easy to burn through the rosary instead of taking the time to actually think about what you are praying. This week, Sarah Reinhard shows us how to pray the Hail Mary Word By Word with the help of over thirty Catholic authors who offer their reflections on every word of the prayer. Who knew how much meaning can be found, not just once, but twice, in the word “the”!Preorder Sarah's book for 20% off!
I also talk about the September devotions to Our Lady of Sorrows. Did you know that the devotion has its own scapular and chaplet?
And you are going to have to listen to the podcast to find out about the time we left my sister at a gas station and why this video is part of this episode.

]]>Ianclean29:3211083New Catholic Books for Grade-Schoolershttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/new-catholic-books-for-grade-schoolers/
Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:18:02 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11051So what can you get that First Communicant when you aren't the parents or godparents and can't take dibs on a Bible or First Communion rosary? Lisa Hendey to the rescue! Her new Chime Travelers series of books is just the ticket. Follow two children on their adventures through time where they meet saints and …So what can you get that First Communicant when you aren't the parents or godparents and can't take dibs on a Bible or First Communion rosary? Lisa Hendey to the rescue! Her new Chime Travelers series of books is just the ticket.

So what can you get that First Communicant when you aren't the parents or godparents and can't take dibs on a Bible or First Communion rosary?
Lisa Hendey to the rescue! Her new Chime Travelers series of books is just the ticket. Follow two children on their adventures through time where they meet saints and learn more about the Faith.
Take a listen!
Do you have suggestions for great Catholic books for grade-schoolers? Please let us know in the comments below.

]]>Ianclean56:4511051Learning how to pray with your children – new podcast interviewhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/learning-how-to-pray-with-your-children-new-podcast-interview/
Tue, 18 Aug 2015 19:54:02 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11026Wouldn't you like to pray with your children but don't know where to start? Grace Urbanksi is here to help. She has practical steps you can take to make prayer a part of your family routine.Wouldn't you like to pray with your children but don't know where to start? Grace Urbanksi is here to help. She has practical steps you can take to make prayer a part of your family routine.

Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) and Holy Cross Family Ministries are gradually releasing a four-part study on young Catholic families. More than 1,000 adults aged 25-45 responded to the survey, providing insights into faith and family that the Family Feud show would never have dreamed of.

Each section of the report is being released monthly:

* June 2015: The Catholic Family: 21st Century Challenges in the United States (available here)
* July 2015: The U.S. Catholic Family: Demographics (available here)
* Aug 2015: Practice of Faith in the Catholic Family
* Sept 2015: Catholic Families and Media Usage

This impressive research coincides with the upcoming World Meeting of Families as well as the Synod of Bishops on the Family in October. Clearly, family is on the brain these days. Specifically, the Church is looking for more effective and loving ways to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to families.

The Apostleship of Prayer follows all of these goings-on closely. We already provide ministry to families through family retreats, parish and school presentations, radio and TV appearances, and prayer materials for all ages. Inspired by St. Ignatius's love for the magis (“more-ness”), we want to go deeper.

We were surprised to read some of CARA's findings on family prayer, but encouraged by the call to redouble our efforts:

* The Holy Cross Family Ministries website cites their CARA survey, saying that, while 71 percent of parents ackowledge that prayer is critical to faith life, “only about 36 percent pray at least once a day.”
* The second special report on Demographics reveals that not many families pray together. Instead, parents who do pray “consider prayer to be their personal conversation with God.”
* In reporting on the surveys, the National Catholic Register commented, “One of the starting places for the evangelization of the family will be family prayer. According to CARA, most parents agreed prayer was essential, but more than three out of four parents preferred to pray alone.” Curiously, families “were not likely to pray together before meals or together as a family.”

We hope one of our newest books (in bookstores September 2015) will help families build confident prayer lives. Pray with Me: Seven Simple Ways to Pray with Your Children ...]]>Ianclean26:1911026Leaving Planned Parenthood and the Culture of Death With Ramona Trevinohttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/leaving-planned-parenthood-and-the-culture-of-death-with-ramona-trevino/
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 18:28:10 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=11009Planned Parenthood has been in the news for weeks now denying, accusing and finally hiding behind "but it's legal" as video after video has come out showing the organization engaging in the selling of baby parts.Planned Parenthood has been in the news for weeks now denying, accusing and finally hiding behind "but it's legal" as video after video has come out showing the organization engaging in the selling of baby parts.

Planned Parenthood has been in the news for weeks now denying, accusing and finally hiding behind “but it's legal” as video after video has come out showing the organization engaging in the selling of baby parts.
We were fortunate enough to get an interview this week with Ramona Trevino, author of Redeemed By Grace. Ramona is a former manager of a Planned Parenthood center but had a conversion back to her Catholic Faith a couple of years ago.

]]>Ianclean32:031100921 Ways to Get More Out of Adorationhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/21-ways-to-get-more-out-of-adoration/
Mon, 03 Aug 2015 20:55:18 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10990Get more out of adoration this month! Listen to an old episode with Vinny Flynn about his book 21 Ways to Worship.Get more out of adoration this month! Listen to an old episode with Vinny Flynn about his book 21 Ways to Worship.

Get more out of adoration this month! Listen to an old episode with Vinny Flynn about his book 21 Ways to Worship.

]]>Ianclean29:3510990Discover how to conquer the Seven Deadly Sinshttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/discover-how-to-conquer-the-seven-deadly-sins/
Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:04:35 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10963The Seven Deadly Sins sound pretty serious. But do you even know what they are? How can you fight against them if you aren't sure what you are fighting against?The Seven Deadly Sins sound pretty serious. But do you even know what they are? How can you fight against them if you aren't sure what you are fighting against?

The Seven Deadly Sins sound pretty serious. But do you even know what they are? How can you fight against them if you aren't sure what you are fighting against?a Rafflecopter giveaway

]]>Ianclean35:2310963So Tell Me Again How the Big Bang Started Itself…https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/so-tell-me-again-how-the-big-bang-started-itself/
Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:12:32 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10940So how did the Big Bang create itself? Physics and reason say that it didn't. So what did? This week I spoke with Dr. Michael Augros where he answers the question "Who Designed the Designer?"So how did the Big Bang create itself? Physics and reason say that it didn't. So what did? This week I spoke with Dr. Michael Augros where he answers the question "Who Designed the Designer?"

So how did the Big Bang create itself? Physics and reason say that it didn't. So what did? This week I spoke with Dr. Michael Augros where he answers the question “Who Designed the Designer?”

Because of the recent Supreme Court ruling redefining marriage, I also introduced our new Aquinas and More Marriage Toolbox. This collection of books and DVDs is meant to help you not only educate yourself and your family about God's plan for marriage but to help you evangelize our pagan culture.
Have you ever had Irish Bread pudding for dessert? I had some for my birthday this weekend and it was delicious! Check out a picture over at our Instagram page.

]]>Ianclean39:3010940Have You #Tweeted With God? – Listen to our latest podcasthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/have-you-tweeted-with-god/
Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:00:36 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10891My main interview this week is with Father Michael Remery, author of Tweeting With #God. We didn't just discuss the book, we also discussed how best to evangelize young people and what they are searching for. You won't want to miss this.My main interview this week is with Father Michael Remery, author of Tweeting With #God. We didn't just discuss the book, we also discussed how best to evangelize young people and what they are searching for. You won't want to miss this.

This week's episode is a full one!
I have an interview with a CatholicMom.com contributor about a new series of Bible fiction by a Catholic author and I also discuss Pope Francis' new encyclical, Laudato Si'.
My main interview this week is with Father Michel Remery, author of Tweeting With #God. We didn't just discuss the book, we also discussed how best to evangelize young people and what they are searching for. You won't want to miss this.
As always, we're giving away a copy of the book from this weeks episode.a Rafflecopter giveaway

]]>Ianclean37:4410891The Atomic Bomb Was Set Off At Catholic University – Behind the Catholic Counter Ep. 36https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/the-atomic-bomb-was-set-off-at-catholic-university-behind-the-catholic-counter-ep-36/
Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:10:47 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10857In 1968 Father Charles Curran led a revolution of American Catholic theologians in dissent against Humanae Vitae. The results have been devastating to the Church in the United States and Catholic higher education which in the majority of universities has become open hostility to the Faith.In 1968 Father Charles Curran led a revolution of American Catholic theologians in dissent against Humanae Vitae. The results have been devastating to the Church in the United States and Catholic higher education which in the majority of universities h...

In 1968 Father Charles Curran led a revolution of American Catholic theologians in dissent against Humanae Vitae. The results have been devastating to the Church in the United States and Catholic higher education which in the majority of universities has become open hostility to the Faith. But what happened in 1968 had a dress rehearsal the year before. Father Peter Mitchell did extensive research including interviewing participants in the events at Catholic University during those two years and has written the most detailed account of what happened.

a Rafflecopter giveaway]]>Ianclean31:3110857Where Rocket Ships Meet God – Behind the Catholic Counter Episode 35https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/where-rocket-ships-meet-god-behind-the-catholic-counter-episode-35/
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 11:06:22 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10839On this week's show I spoke with a real rocket scientist and inventor about approaching belief in God from a scientific outlook.On this week's show I spoke with a real rocket scientist and inventor about approaching belief in God from a scientific outlook.

* science is based on faith
* religion and science use very similar methods to arrive at conclusions
* you can visually show religious concepts using mathematical formulas
* to distinguish between reality and truth

I also spoke with Barb the Franciscan Mom about her thoughts on The Catholic Drinkie's Guide to Home Brewed Evangelism.

]]>Ianclean23:1010839Why the Morning Offering should be part of your daily routine – Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast 34https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/why-the-morning-offering-should-be-part-of-your-daily-routine-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-34/
Wed, 17 Jun 2015 11:00:21 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10813Is your morning routine missing something? Do you even have a morning routine?
The Morning Offering is a short prayer, full of depth that helps you to get your whole day aligned to God.Is your morning routine missing something? Do you even have a morning routine? - The Morning Offering is a short prayer, full of depth that helps you to get your whole day aligned to God.

Is your morning routine missing something? Do you even have a morning routine?
The Morning Offering is a short prayer, full of depth that helps you to get your whole day aligned to God.
Interested? Listen to Michael Ortiz as he plumbs the depths of this wonderful prayer in Like the First Morning, The Morning Offering as Daily Renewal.
How do you start your morning? Please leave comments below!
I also talk with the Catholic Book Blogger about his latest review and give away.
Enter to win a copy of Like the First Morning!
[wpdevart_countdown text_for_day=”Days” text_for_hour=”Hours” text_for_minut=”Minutes” text_for_second=”Seconds” start_time=”1434555284″ end_time=”5,13,1″ action_end_time=”hide” content_position=”center” top_ditance=”10″ bottom_distance=”10″ ][/wpdevart_countdown]a Rafflecopter giveaway

]]>Ianclean34:5310813Seven Prayers Through the Eyes of a Former Atheist – Behind the Catholic Counter 33https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/seven-prayers-through-the-eyes-of-a-former-atheist-behind-the-catholic-counter-33/
Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:07:59 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10795So how does an atheist end up Catholic? By finding God in the interests she already has. Join me as I have a conversation with Leah Libresco about her journey to Catholicism and the difficulties she had working through different kinds of prayer in Arriving at Amen - Seven Catholic Prayers Even I Can Offer.So how does an atheist end up Catholic? By finding God in the interests she already has. Join me as I have a conversation with Leah Libresco about her journey to Catholicism and the difficulties she had working through different kinds of prayer in Arri...

So how does an atheist end up Catholic? By finding God in the interests she already has. Join me as I have a conversation with Leah Libresco about her journey to Catholicism and the difficulties she had working through different kinds of prayer in Arriving at Amen – Seven Catholic Prayers Even I Can Offer.

* Why math and Mass go together
* How she rationalized saying the Rosary before she was even Catholic
* What her favorite prayer is
* Why Les Miserables points to something above humanity
* Should you see Age of Ultron?

Is there a prayer that took you time to arrive at amen? Please share in the comments and I might read it on the air!
We're giving away a copy of her book so be sure to enter the drawing!
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]]>Ianclean21:5610795The Catholic Drinkie’s Guide to Home Brewed Evangelism – Behind the Catholic Counter Episode 31https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/the-catholic-drinkies-guide-to-home-brewed-evangelism-behind-the-catholic-counter-episode-31/
Wed, 27 May 2015 06:42:55 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10754Show topics: Flannery O'Connor gets her own stamp! Unfortunately it's for three ounce envelopes. Sharpen your pencils, you're going to need to write in full sentences to write that long a letter. People do not become angels. It doesn't matter if It's a Wonderful Life, Country music or some middling “Catholic” novel says so. People …Show topics: Flannery O'Connor gets her own stamp! Unfortunately it's for three ounce envelopes. Sharpen your pencils, you're going to need to write in full sentences to write that long a letter. People do not become angels.

Show topics:
Flannery O'Connor gets her own stamp! Unfortunately it's for three ounce envelopes. Sharpen your pencils, you're going to need to write in full sentences to write that long a letter.
People do not become angels. It doesn't matter if It's a Wonderful Life, Country music or some middling “Catholic” novel says so. People and angels are different creatures!
I had a great interview this week with Sarah Vabulous, author of The Catholic Drinkie's Guide to Home Brewed Evangelism.
Pre-release special: Save 15% before June 1st.
[wpdevart_countdown text_for_day=”Days” text_for_hour=”Hours” text_for_minut=”Minutes” text_for_second=”Seconds” start_time=”1432711431″ end_time=”4,23,36″ action_end_time=”hide” content_position=”center” top_ditance=”10″ bottom_distance=”10″ ][/wpdevart_countdown]Order before happy hour ends!
Here are some of the things we discussed:

* How to brew beer in your apartment
* The best in Trappist beer
* Patron saints of alcohol
* How to discuss Catholicism with people you meet in bars without getting thrown out

]]>Ianclean20:1810754Abraham, Father in Faith and Works – Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast 30https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/abraham-father-in-faith-and-works-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-30/
Tue, 19 May 2015 13:01:38 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10717Welcome to episode 30 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. This week I interviewed Steve Ray about his latest Footprints of God DVD, Abraham, Father in Faith and Works.Welcome to episode 30 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. This week I interviewed Steve Ray about his latest Footprints of God DVD, Abraham, Father in Faith and Works.

Welcome to episode 30 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

This week I interviewed Steve Ray about his latest Footprints of God DVD, Abraham. Listen as we travel to Iraq, Syria and the rest of the Middle East, discuss riding camels and climbing ziggurats.
To celebrate the release of the newest Footprints of God DVD, Abraham, we're offering 20% off on the entire series this week.

In this episode I also talked about moving Confirmation to before First Communion and a summer reading program of the Sienna Institute.

]]>Ianclean30:4710717The Catholic Guide to Dating After Divorce – Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast 29https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/the-catholic-guide-to-dating-after-divorce-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-29/
Mon, 11 May 2015 15:20:52 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10686Because it's Spring, there are a bunch of great new products coming out from different publishers. This week I interviewed Lisa Duffy about her new book the Catholic Guide to Dating after Divorce, a very tough topic but Lisa is very friendly and personable so we had a great interview. Next week I'll be talking to Steve Ray about his latest Footprints of God pilgrimage DVD - Abraham.Because it's Spring, there are a bunch of great new products coming out from different publishers. This week I interviewed Lisa Duffy about her new book the Catholic Guide to Dating after Divorce, a very tough topic but Lisa is very friendly and person...

Welcome to episode 29 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

May is the Month of Mary so be sure to check out our blog for an article about May and also a link to our 20% off sale on Marian gifts.

The feast of Corpus Christi isn't until June but if you want to start an old tradition in your parish and have a Corpus Christi procession, now is the time to start planning. We have a very thorough article on our blog explaining how to do a procession and also how to get a gorgeous canopy for your parish.

Because it's Spring, there are a bunch of great new products coming out from different publishers. This week I interviewed Lisa Duffy about her new book the Catholic Guide to Dating after Divorce, a very tough topic but Lisa is very friendly and personable so we had a great interview. Next week I'll be talking to Steve Ray about his latest Footprints of God pilgrimage DVD – Abraham.

If you order a copy of Lisa's book on May 12th and send her a copy of your receipt, you will get a free life planning consultation with Lisa! You can order from Lisa's site or from Aquinas and More. See the show notes below for her email address.

Welcome to episode 28 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

This week, I am continuing my interview with Lucas Pollice (Policy),associate director of the Saint Augustine Institute about the Symbolon adult religious education program. This week we are discussing the Beloved marriage preparation and enrichment program and the YDisciple young adult programs.

Thank you for joining me today. For links to the books and websites we discussed today, see the show notes. Please subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and comment on this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

At Aquinasandmore.com we are in the business of strengthening your Faith through the products we sell. I look forward to having you shop with us where good faith is guaranteed. God bless.

]]>Ianclean14:5310558Symbolon Adult Religious Education – Behind the Catholic Counter Episode 27https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/symbolon-adult-religious-education-behind-the-catholic-counter-episode-27/
Mon, 13 Apr 2015 08:16:38 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10534This week, I interviewed Lucas Pollice, associate director of the Saint Augustine Institute about the Symbolon adult religious education program. Because the St. Augustine Institute has such a large series, I've broken up the interview over two weeks.This week, I interviewed Lucas Pollice, associate director of the Saint Augustine Institute about the Symbolon adult religious education program. Because the St. Augustine Institute has such a large series, I've broken up the interview over two weeks.

Welcome to episode 27 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
This week, I interviewed Lucas Pollice, associate director of the Saint Augustine Institute about the Symbolon adult religious education program. Because the St. Augustine Institute has such a large series, I've broken up the interview over two weeks.
A few news notes before our interview.
In case you missed it, Pope Francis announced a Jubilee year of Mercy yesterday on Divine Mercy Sunday. The actual jubilee year begins December 8th. I have links in the show notes to information about it and also to our sale on all Divine Mercy gifts.
If you are interested in the early Church, head on over to Catholicbookblogger.com for his review and giveaway of Seven Revolutions by Mike Aquilina.
Okay, on to our interview.
Ian: Today I'm going to be talking about the Symbolon Series and other programs from the Saint Augustine Institute with Lucas Pollice. He's the former Director of Catechesis for the Diocese of Fort Worth. He received B.A. in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a Masters of Theological Studies from the Institute of Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University. Currently he is the Associate Director of the Saint Agustine Institute. Lucas, thank you for joining me today!
Lucas: That's great! It's good to be with you today!
Ian: So before we start talking about the Symbolon program that the Saint Augustine Institute has come out with, can you tell me about the institute itself?
Lucas: Sure absolutely. So we were founded back in 2005 by Archbishop Chaput when he was the Archbishop here in Denver, and the Archbishop had this great vision for creating a lay Institute to form leaders for the church but particularly in the context of New Evangelization. So the Institute was founded initially as a Graduate School to do this work informing lay people specifically in the new order, new message, new expression of the New Evangelization. We're 10 years old this year and currently in the Graduate School we have about 350 students enrolled between our Distance Program as well as our On-campus Program and we've also started a new degree this year.
We have our General Master’s Degree in Theology, but we also started a new degree this year called Leadership for the New Evangelization which is a degree specifically for training parish leaders. Not only do we have our general theology courses, we have some practical courses what they do, they also do a practicum in a parish or an apostolate here in Denver. So the Graduate School is the fastest growing Catholic Graduate School in the United States. It's the largest Catholic Graduate School west of the Mississippi. The Graduate Schools' been doing very well and in the last three years we've opened up what we called the second lung of the Institute, and that is the side of the institute that is doing all of this work for parish and diocese and outreach where we've been, not only creating these resources like Symbolon and Beloved and YDisciple, but we also have been doing training across the country for parish leaders in areas such as Adult Faith Formation and RCIA. And these really came about when a group of bishops approach the leadership of the institute and said, you know, we really need help out there particularly in the area of Adult Faith Formation and RCIA, we really need help getting some really good, dynamic, engaging resources but also training for folks who ...]]>Ianclean30:2210534A. D. Miniseries and new Catholic books – Behind the Catholic Counter Episode 26https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/a-d-miniseries-and-new-catholic-books-behind-the-catholic-counter-episode-26/
Mon, 23 Mar 2015 08:06:42 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10475Today, I'm interviewing Charlie McKinney, president of Sophia Institute Press. We're going to discuss the upcoming series on NBC about the Acts of the Apostles and the corresponding books that Sophia has published. At the end of our interview, I'll have a couple of special offers for our listeners. Charlie, thank you for joining me on the show today!Today, I'm interviewing Charlie McKinney, president of Sophia Institute Press. We're going to discuss the upcoming series on NBC about the Acts of the Apostles and the corresponding books that Sophia has published. At the end of our interview,

Welcome to episode 26 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
This week, I interviewed Charle McKinnie, president of Sophia Institute Press about the books he is publishing in partnership with NBC about the new miniseries A.D., the Bible Continues about the Acts of the Apostles. The miniseries starts on Easter Sunday.

Ian: Today, I'm interviewing Charlie McKinney, president of Sophia Institute Press. We're going to discuss the upcoming series on NBC about the Acts of the Apostles and the corresponding books that Sophia has published. At the end of our interview, I'll have a couple of special offers for our listeners. Charlie, thank you for joining me on the show today!
Charlie: Ian thanks for having me it's good to be here.
Ian: When I first saw these books on your website, I just thought that they were new books about The Acts of The Apostles but then I saw the NBC peacock logo on them in that new miniseries, so what is this miniseries and how did you get involved in it?
Charlie: Well, I don't know if you can recall, or maybe many of your listener's recall the Bible Series which was on the History Channel last year.
Ian: Yes.
Charlie: It's had like a hundred million viewers which is an incredible series, it was very well done, it was authentic and was produced by Mark Burnett who has done The Voice and The Survivor and Celebrity Apprentice, a very high level producer in Hollywood and his wife Roma Downey who you may recall from Touched by an Angel, you know a decade or more ago and they, as Christians, they put this thing together and it just, it was a sort of unexpected success on the History Channel and what sort of grew out of the results of the movie, which was released last year, was The Son of God which was sort of a two hour excerpt from the series.
Anyway, this program was so popular that Mark and Roma approached NBC and they picked up the sequel, which is A.D. The Bible Continues, which covers essentially the first ten chapters of the Acts of The Apostles. And so it just kind of continues the Bible Series and it began with the Death and Resurrection of Christ in Episode one, and then for the next eleven weeks, so twelve weeks total will follow the lives of the early Christians to Saint Peter and the early apostles, the conversion of Saul to Paul and it just has all the intrigue in there, everything that happened, the martyrdom of Saint Steven, everything that sort of followed in the first ten chapters of The Acts the Apostles. They did a beautiful job.
We read the scripts in the here, excellent we've watched, our staff watched the first two episodes and there's just an incredible – incredible, very well done and authentic series that we're very excited about the opportunity for evangelization.
And so how did we get involved? Well, we were invited to submit a product list and we did and we essentially won, we were given the opportunity to produce these resources and we're very excited to do it and so we put out two books. One is the Catholic Viewers Guide and which was written by our staff, especially Veronica Burschard, who's our vice president for education program and then a trade book, called Ministers and Martyrs which is by Matt Mike Aquilina . So we got to work on this in October and these books are being released this month.
Ian: So when the original series came out, had they already planned on doing a second series or that ca...]]>Ianclean18:0710475Gardening for your soul and yard – Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast 24https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/gardening-for-your-soul-and-yard-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-24/
Fri, 13 Mar 2015 06:00:17 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10434Welcome to episode 24 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.Welcome to episode 24 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts.

Welcome to episode 24 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
This week, I interviewed Margaret Realy, an oblate of Saint Benedict, an avid gardener and the author of the new book, A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac. We have some great giveways and a special pre-release sale that we'll talk about at the end of the show.

A few news notes in the Catholic retailing world.
If you have children going through First Communion prep, you probably need to make a banner. Instead of agonizing over a design, finding parts at Hobby Lobby and cutting everything out, I have the stress-free solution for you. Our First Communion banner kits come in several styles and two different sizes with all the parts pre-cut out. Check the show notes for a link to our kits and be sure to watch the video of my daughter assembling one of the kits for her First Communion three years ago.

Following on the success of the Son of God miniseries, NBC hired the producers to make a followup, twelve part series about the Acts of the Apostles. It premiers on Easter Sunday. Sophia Institute Press has produced two companion books to go along with the series, one of which was written by Mike Aquilina, Church Fathers expert. Stay tuned in two weeks for my podcast about the new series. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Several years ago, the Benedictines of Mary made big news with their chart-topping Advent at Ephesus CD. This year, they have a new album out, Easter at Ephesus featuring twenty seven Easter classics. I've put a link to the CD in the show notes.

Be sure to visit the Catholic Book Blogger over at Patheos this week for his interview with Joseph Pearce and also for a giveaway of Lenten books.
Okay, let's get on to the interview.
Ian: Today, I'm interviewing Margaret Realy about her new book, A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac. Margaret is an oblate of Saint Benedict, she's a blogger and retreat master and she's here to talk us about working on a spiritual garden. Welcome to the show Margaret!
Margaret: Thank you so much!
Ian: How did you come up with the idea for this book? And I've seen gardening books before but this is a very different type of gardening book.
Margaret: Well about 6 years ago, when my first book came out, which is A Garden of Visible Prayer which, is now on its second edition. But when that first book it was being produced by Circle Media, Father Bartunek and Claudia Volkman had asked me to write something in a Gardening theme for Catholics to take it away from the new age perspective...]]>Ianclean18:3910434Overcoming Sinful Anger – Behind the Catholic Counter Ep 23https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/overcoming-sinful-anger-behind-the-catholic-counter-ep-23/
Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:54:52 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10399Welcome to episode 23 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
This week I spoke with Father Thomas Morrow, author of Overcoming Sinful Anger.Welcome to episode 23 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts.

Welcome to episode 23 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
This week I spoke with Father Thomas Morrow, author of Overcoming Sinful Anger.

Since Lent is already underway, just a quick reminder that if you were considering gettingrose chasubles or black chasubles for the season, now is the time to order them.

Let's get on with our interview.

Ian: Today I'm Pleased to have Rev. Thomas Morrow on our show, we're going to be discussing his new book Overcoming Sinful Anger, from Sophia Institute Press – How to Master Your Emotions and Bring Peace to Your Life. Thank you, for joining me on the show today Father.
Fr. Morrow: You are welcome.
Ian: Father one of the things that is kind of hard to distinguish here from the start is, what is the difference between anger and hate?
Fr. Morrow: Well, anger could be either a feeling or something we take hold of and express in unhealthy ways, and hatred is one of the things that comes from unhealthy anger. So mostly you know, we can't control the feelings that we have but we can control what we do with those feelings and we can either take care of that anger in a healthy way and dissipate it or we can express it in a very unhealthy way and make life miserable for all those around us.
Ian: So, you are talking about healthy and unhealthy anger. What is the distinction? I have an assume that Jesus is anger in the temple with a healthy kind of anger-
Fr. Morrow: Exactly!
Ian: What about Job's anger?
Fr. Morrow: Job's anger was misplaced and the anger of Jesus was what we call righteous anger and so some sequences – you know there is such a thing as righteous anger and it's a virtue to have righteous anger but it's also not a virtue to express anger in a harmful and nasty way. We need to express our anger in a constructive way or a way that expresses the outrage but again within reason, not the outrage of something that's really way off the charts in terms of being a correct activity.
Ian: You mention within reason, do you mean that we use reason to make decisions about what we're angry about instead of irrationally?
Fr. Morrow: We use our reason to try to forget what we're angry about and decide if it's worth being angry. Sometimes people get angry over things that are trivial and in fact I've worked with couples from time to time and “Oh, we had a terrible argument.” and I said, “Well, what was that about?” and they say, “Well actually I don't remember, it wasn't anything important.” So a lot of people get angry over trifling things and now, that of course stems from an exaggerated pride that- “How dare anyone inconvenience me?”
]]>Ianclean23:5710399Magnificat Books for Kids – Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast Ep 22https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/magnificat-books-for-kids-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-ep-22/
Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:19:56 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10364This week I spoke with Vivian Dudro, editor of the Magnificat Children's books. If you are looking for First Communion gifts or gifts for any other time of year for children, you will want to listen to this interview. I'll have a special offer at the end of the show.This week I spoke with Vivian Dudro, editor of the Magnificat Children's books. If you are looking for First Communion gifts or gifts for any other time of year for children, you will want to listen to this interview.

Welcome to episode 22 of the Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, President of Aquinasnandmore.com. I interview Catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new Catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
This week I spoke with Vivian Dudro, editor of the Magnificat Children's books. If you are looking for First Communion gifts or gifts for any other time of year for children, you will want to listen to this interview. I'll have a special offer at the end of the show.

I hope you had a blessed Ash Wednesday. Our family went to the 7pm Mass at our parish and it was really crowded. I'm sure that a lot of the people that were there had a bit of a shock because the Mass was in Latin and most of these people don't normally go to the Latin Mass. Two of my kids slept through most of Mass and by the time it ended an hour and a half later, everyone was ready to go to bed.

You may have seen in the news last week that Family Christian Stores declared chapter 11 bankruptcy. Family Christian stores used to be called Zondervans and is the largest chain of Christian stores in the United States. Under chapter 11 bankruptcy, they are going to try and reorganize the business while keeping their creditors from suing them out of business.

I hope that you support your local Catholic bookstore because if a company like Family Christian is in financial trouble, it's likely that your local Catholic store isn't in much better shape.

On Monday Ramona Trevino, author of Redeemed by Grace, A Catholic Woman's Journey to Planned Parenthood and Back, did a live web interview about her experiences. You can listen to it at redeemedbygracebook.com. After you listen, come on back to Aquinasandmore.com to order it. We have it in stock.

Since Lent is already underway, just a quick reminder that if you were considering getting rose chasubles or black chasubles for the season, now is the time to order them.

Let's get on with our interview.

Ian: Today on the show, I'm happy to be speaking with Vivian Dudro; she is the Ignatius editor of the Magnificat Children series. Thank you for joining me Vivian.
Vivian: Oh you're welcome, thank you.
Ian: My family has been a great fan of Magnificat and Magnifikid for years. Our kids used them in church and loved them. When did Magnificat start publishing children's books to go along with the Magnifikid?
Vivian: A few years ago, Magnificat approached Ignatius Press and they've partnered with the company and France's mom which publishes a lot of books. It's sort of the Ignatius Press of France – if you want to think of it that way, and they publish a lot of beautiful children's books.]]>Ianclean26:1610364Rita Ford – I Believe in Love, Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast #21https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/rita-ford-i-believe-in-love-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-21/
Fri, 13 Feb 2015 10:46:50 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10327Today I am joined by Rita Ford, she has written a retreat guide and study guide for the book I Believe in Love, a personal retreat based on the teaching of Saint Therese of Lisieux from Sophia Institute Press. Thank you for joining me on the show today Rita.Today I am joined by Rita Ford, she has written a retreat guide and study guide for the book I Believe in Love, a personal retreat based on the teaching of Saint Therese of Lisieux from Sophia Institute Press.

Welcome to the Behind the Catholic Counter podcast. I'm Ian Rutherford, president of aquinasandmore.com. I interview catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new catholic books and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at aquinasandmore.com/podcast.

Before we get to this weeks interview, I wanted to mention two new books that you're going to want to check out. The first is Redeemed by Grace from Ignatius Press, this is the heart wrenching but redemptive story of Ramona Treviño, a former planned parenthood worker who had a reversion to the catholic faith, and is now an international pro life speaker. The second is Hints of Heaven written by Father George Rutler and published by Sophia Institute Press. Father Rutler takes the deceptively simple stories in the parables, and delves into their deeper meaning.
Since Lent is almost here I also wants to highlight our Stations of the Cross chaplet made by a friend of ours right here in Colorado. Help her put her kids through college and get a special devotion for Lenten reflection. All of these gifts can be found at Aquinas and More.
If you haven't send up for Brandon Vogt's email list for addicted readers like me, you really should take a look at catholicbookdeals.com. Every week Brandon shares information on catholic book specials from all over the internet. You will usually find some from us in there as well.

Alright, lets go on with our interview, stay tuned afterwords for a special on our interview topic.
Ian: Today I am joined by Rita Ford, she has written a retreat guide and study guide for the book I Believe in Love, a personal retreat based on the teaching of Saint Therese of Lisieux from Sophia Institute Press. Thank you for joining me on the show today Rita.
Rita: Thank you Ian, thanks for having me.
Ian: My wife and I are both big fans of Saint Therese, we opened our store on October 1st and have always looked for roses as signs when we're trying to discern things and my wife has a particular to devotion to her. When I showed her the book I Believe in Love she was really excited about it and now that there's this whole study program that you came up with, we think this is just great. Can you tell us a little bit about your interest in Saint Therese and how you came to write these books?
Rita: Sure sure, I'm a Catholic wife and mother of four children, of varying ages between 11 and 22. A stay at home mom and have been involved a lot in my kids' Catholic school education and volunteering here and there and a few years back I was the president of the Parents Teacher Club at our elementary school, and before i'd have started in my term I thought, you know we really should have a patron saint for our organization and in the next moment I knew it needs to be Saint Therese because of her little way and doing small things for great love and that's really what volunteers of the school do,
]]>Ianclean17:4910327Mark Brumley – Didache Bible, Behind the Catholic Counter Podcast #20https://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/mark-brumley-didache-bible-behind-the-catholic-counter-podcast-20/
Fri, 06 Feb 2015 21:26:01 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10315This week I interviewed Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press about the new Didache Bible. Below is the transcript of the show along with links to everything we talked about.This week I interviewed Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press about the new Didache Bible. Below is the transcript of the show along with links to everything we talked about.

This week I interviewed Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press about the new Didache Bible. Below is the transcript of the show along with links to everything we talked about.Be sure to read my review of the Didache Bible as well.
Transcript
Welcome to the Behind the Catholic Counter podcast. I’m Ian Rutherford president of Aquinasandmore.com. I interview catholic authors, publishers and manufacturers to give you the latest news about great new catholic book and gifts. You can listen to this and past episodes at http://www.aquinasandmore.com/podcast.
Ian: Today, I am joined by Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press and we're going to talk about the brand new Didache Bible that Ignatius Press has just released. Thank you for joining me on the show today Mark.
Mark: I am happy to be here.
Ian: Before we start on the Didache Bible, I know Ignatius Press has a lot of different Bible study options, can you tell us, kind of an overview of what Ignatius Press has to offer?
Mark: Well of course we have lots of books on the Bible that kind of thing, but for the purposes of Bible study, getting into the text in detail rather than an overview of that, we have the Ignatius Study Bible which right now we have all of the New Testament part of the done, we have it in a single volume for the New Testament and then we have individual books for the Old Testament. We also have the Ignatius Lighthouse Bible App which has the biblical text and then you can order the study Bible notes as an accompaniment on that, so kind of wide-ranged of resources there along with Steve Ray's Footprints of God Series which is really for the most part, a kind of intense Bible study, where's he takes you to the Bible lands and it goes to the biblical text and looks it’s some of the biblical figures.
Ian: With this wide range of Bible studies, how did the Didache project originate as a new Bible project for Ignatius?
Mark: Well it's something we partnered with Midwest Theological Forum on. They are Catholic Publishers as well and we've been in conversation with Father James Socias who has been the executive director of Midwest for a number of years, he really likes the Ignatius Bible translation which is a form of the RSV, the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, we call ours the RSV second catholic edition because we've gone through and made some modifications of the standard catholic RSV text that conform it more closely with the liturgy and things of that sort. Well Father Socias really loves that translation and he has for a number of years had a desire to have a Bible or biblical text accompanied by notes based upon the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Then Cardinal Ratzinger,
Ian: It's been a while.
Mark: Pope Benedict, had said many years ago that he thought the Catechism of the Catholic Church was a choice commentary on the Bible. Now he has a particular sense in which he says that and we'll probably want to come back to that but, then Cardinal Ratzinger thought that the catechism was an excellent way of, kind of understanding the biblical text to bring a unity between the Faith that is expressed in the biblical text and the Faith as it has come to be understood, come to be lived and celebrated in the liturgy, lived in the moral life and prayed, in our life of prayer expressed in the catechism. So, what the Didache Bible does, is it brings together the biblical text and elements drawn from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to enriched the reader's ex...]]>Ianclean18:1310315Mark Brumley, Ignatius President on Synod of the Familyhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/mark-brumley-ignatius-president-on-synod-of-the-family/
Fri, 10 Oct 2014 17:11:31 +0000http://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/?p=10102On today's Behind the Catholic Counter, I talked with Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press about the three new titles they released to coincide with the ongoing Synod on the Family.On today's Behind the Catholic Counter, I talked with Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press about the three new titles they released to coincide with the ongoing Synod on the Family.

On today's Behind the Catholic Counter, I talked with Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press about the three new titles they released to coincide with the ongoing Synod on the Family.
The idea for these books was suggested back in the spring after Cardinal Kaspar did an interview about the upcoming family synod. The cardinal suggested, among other things, that it could be possible to allow remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion.
The first book, Remaining in the Truth of Christ, deals directly with the issue of the reception of Holy Communion by divorced and remarried couples who haven't gotten annulments. The book is actually a collection of essays by several cardinals and theologians covering the topic from all angles. The most interesting part for me was a survey of divorce practices in the Orthodox churches. I didn't realize that there wasn't really any standard among the various denominations and what was practiced has varied considerably over the centuries.
The book, The Hope of the Family, addresses the topics of the threats to marriage and the family in an interview format with Cardinal Mueller, Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. Mark Brumley said that this is the easiest of the three books to read and is a good starting point for someone who wants to get a basic grasp of the issues facing the synod.

We also discussed the issues of pastoral care for families, especially ones that are in danger of falling apart and what true mercy is when helping those who have gone through divorce. The Gospel of the Family takes a look at the various proposals made by Cardinal Kaspar and uses them as the start of a discussion about how to help families. While pointing out where the cardinal's proposals are wrong, the book also highlights areas where he is correct in his assessments and provides suggestions for solving these problems.

After discussing the three books specifically, Mark suggested Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft and We Have Found Mercy by Cardinal Schoenborn as other resources to help you figure out how to make rational conclusions about moral issues and how to determine what true mercy is.
Finally, Mark suggested the new Ignatius site, Gospel of the Family for other titles related to the family. I also recommend Catholic World Report for regular updates on the synod proceedings.]]>Ianclean36:1610102Behind the Counter #18 Ralph Martin and Joseph Bottumhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/behind-the-counter-18-ralph-martin-and-joseph-bottum/
Wed, 16 Jan 2013 07:32:26 +0000http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/?p=6005Today I'll be speaking with Joseph Bottum about his new book The Christmas Plains that is a kind of a memoir about Christmas growing up in South Dakota. I'll also be speaking with Ralph Martin about his new book Will Many Be Saved? This show is pre-recorded but you can still leave comments about this and upcoming …Today I'll be speaking with Joseph Bottum about his new book The Christmas Plains that is a kind of a memoir about Christmas growing up in South Dakota. I'll also be speaking with Ralph Martin about his new book Will Many Be Saved?The Christmas Plains that is a kind of a memoir about Christmas growing up in South Dakota. I'll also be speaking with Ralph Martin about his new book Will Many Be Saved?
This show is pre-recorded but you can still leave comments about this and upcoming shows on our comment line at 719-235-5045
You can also subscribe to our show on iTunes. Just search for the Behind the Counter under podcasts.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the Story of the Other Wiseman on our radio show. We had company and family over which meant that there were about 20 people in the house and everyone was having a great time until our three year old threw up in the living room. Then one of my daughters decided that she didn't want dessert and went to bed. Then one of our visitors said she didn't feel well and Father drove her home. Oh, boy.
So instead of having a nice peaceful night on Christmas we got to deal with four cases of stomach flu and several loads of laundry. While cleaning up a set of sheets I looked up at the bathroom mirror and saw that one of our kids had stuck a window cling of the crucifixion on it. I know that some people see signs from God regularly. I don't, but that night I was clearly reminded of the saying “no creche without the cross”.
Today is January 5th, the Feast of St. John Neumann. John Neumann was born in Bohemia in 1811. In 1835 John Neumann expected to be ordained but his bishop decided that there were too many priests in the diocese so he halted all ordinations. Wouldn't it be nice to be faced with that problem today?
John Neumann searched all over Europe for a bishop to ordain him and was turned down everywhere. While waiting for ordination John worked in a factory with workers who spoke English and learned it in the process so he sent letters to all the bishops in America asking if any would take him. The bishop of New York agreed and ordained him for the diocese of New York in 1836. At the time the diocese had 36 priests serving 200,000 Catholics. Fr. Neumann's parish stretched from Lake Ontario in the North all the way to Pennsylvania in the South. His parish church didn't have a steeple or a floor but he spent most of his time traveling between towns saying Mass in kitchens and sleeping in taverns.
Because of his isolation from the rest of the diocese he joined the Redemptorists with his bishop's permission. In 1848 he became the Provincial Superior of the United States and was appointed the bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. He was the first bishop in the United States to organize a diocesan school system and during his time in Philadelphia he doubled the number of schools to 200. In order to help with a huge influx of immigrants he also embarked on an extensive church building project that produced about one new parish a month for the city.
If you sometimes think that the Catholic Church is besieged in this country today, in bishop Neumann's time he had to contend with the Know-Nothings – a violent anti-Catholic political party that set fire to convents and churches. Because of the violence, he petitioned Pope Pius IX to let him resign but the pope refused.
In 1854 he was present in Rome of for the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception.
In 1860 at the age of 48 Bishop Neumann dropped dead in the street while running errands. He died from a stroke.
He was beatified during the Second Vatican Council by Pope Paul VI in 1963 and was canonized in 1977.
You will usually see St. Neumann pictured in art wearing a red cape and sometimes holding a church or school.
]]>Ianclean59:256005Behind the Counter #16 – Pearce and Longeneckerhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/behind-the-counter-16-pearce-and-longenecker/
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:07:44 +0000http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/?p=5999This week I interviewed Joseph Pearce about his new book, Bilbo's Journey, and Fr. Dwight Longenecker about Catholicism Pure and Simple. This week I interviewed Joseph Pearce about his new book, Bilbo's Journey, and Fr. Dwight Longenecker about Catholicism Pure and Simple.

]]>Ianclean59:465999Behind the Counter # 15 – The Complete Thinker with Dale Ahlquisthttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/behind-the-counter-14-the-complete-thinker-with-dale-ahlquis/
Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:12:20 +0000http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/?p=5909On today's show I interview Dale Ahlquist, Chesterton expert and author of the new book, The Complete Thinker (also available as an e-book). Today is December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is in a way really too bad for St. Romaric whose feast shares this day. Why is this a problem? Have you …On today's show I interview Dale Ahlquist, Chesterton expert and author of the new book, The Complete Thinker (also available as an e-book). Today is December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is in a way really too bad for St.Dale Ahlquist, Chesterton expert and author of the new book, The Complete Thinker (also available as an e-book).
Today is December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is in a way really too bad for St. Romaric whose feast shares this day. Why is this a problem? Have you ever heard of St. Romaric? Obviously, saints are supposed to be humble so he probably doesn't mind but wouldn't it be nice to at least get a mention at Mass? St. Romaric was a Merovingian nobleman who lived in the 7th century. Queen Brunehilda had Romeric's father killed and Romeric became a homeless wanderer for a time. St. Amatus converted Romaric who then became a monk and founded a monastery called Remiremontin 620. St. Amatus was the first abbot but Romaric soon took his place and served for thirty years. He died in 653.
Okay, now that we've given due recognition to St. Romaric we can talk about the reason you're going to Mass today. Don't forget – you have to go to Mass today, it's a holy day of obligation. And for those of you who think you can be sneaky by going to an evening Mass and make it count for both, your wrong. According to Canon Lawyer Edward Peters, you have to go to two Masses to satisfy two obligations to attend Mass. You aren't required to attend a Mass celebrated specifically for the feast but you do have to go to Mass on the specific day.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception actually originated long before the dogma was proclaimed in 1854. For several hundred years there was a feast celebrating Mary's conception and in the Eastern churches the feast is still called the Child-begetting of the Holy Anne, mother of the Mother of God. The feast was first celebrated in monasteries before spreading to the general church.
On December 8th, 1854, Pope Pius IX promulgated the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception which stated that Mary was granted a unique grace from God to be free from the stain of original sin. Mary confirmed the title when she appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858.
The devotion to the Immaculate Conception is especially strong in the United States. The council of Baltimore – of catechism fame – declared Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception the patroness of the United States in 1846 – 8 years before the dogma was officially declared.

Back when I was in high school we lived near Washington DC for a year while my dad completed a tour at the Pentagon. One of the most incredible places to visit, apart from the Smithsonian and the main post office where you could buy EVERY stamp in circulation – yes, I collected stamps and still have my albums – was the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Shrine sits on the campus of the Catholic University of America and is the largest Catholic church in North America and one of the top ten in the world.
This show is pre-recorded but you can still leave comments about this and upcoming shows on our comment line at 719-235-5045
The construction of the church was approved by St. Pius X in 1913 who personally contributed to its construction. In 1915 the first model of the future church was created by architect Burrall Hoffman, Jr. in a gothic style that looks nothing like the finished church. The church took almost 40 years to complete and was finally dedicated 1959 by Cardinal Spellman.
The church is built in a Romanesque style so instead of the pointed arches and almost lace-like st...]]>Ianclean57:525909Behind the Counter # 13 – Laudamus Te and Studying the Bible With Father Pacwahttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/behind-the-counter-13-laudamus-te-and-studying-the-bible-with-father-pacwa/
Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:47:41 +0000http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/?p=5876On today's show I'm interviewing Margot Davidson, founder of a new Mass missalette called Laudamus Te and Fr. Mitch Pacwa about his Bible study for the Year of Faith. If you are familiar with the Magnificat Magazine, then Laudamus Te will be familiar. It's a missalette shipped every couple of months that is for use …On today's show I'm interviewing Margot Davidson, founder of a new Mass missalette called Laudamus Te and Fr. Mitch Pacwa about his Bible study for the Year of Faith. If you are familiar with the Magnificat Magazine, then Laudamus Te will be familiar.Laudamus Te and Fr. Mitch Pacwa about his Bible study for the Year of Faith. If you are familiar with the Magnificat Magazine, then Laudamus Te will be familiar. It's a missalette shipped every couple of months that is for use at the Extraordinary form Mass. I think this is a great idea and something that Latin Mass parishes should probably subscribe to in bulk because not everyone can afford a missal.
Welcome to the the Behind the Counter Catholic radio show where we take a “No Bull, just the truth” approach to the Catholic Faith. I'm Ian Rutherford, founder of Aquinasandmore.com. Thank you for taking the time to listen in today.
This show is pre-recorded but you can still leave comments about this and upcoming shows on our comment line at 719-235-5045
You can also subscribe to our show on iTunes. Just search for the Behind the Counter under podcasts.
Today is November 17th, feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary or November 19th on the Extraordinary Form calendar. St. Elizabeth was born in Presburg, Hungary in 1207, the daughter of King Andrew II. When she was four she was sent to Thuringia, a province in Germany for school and was betrothed to the infant prince of the country. The prince died as a child but Elizabeth stayed and eventually married prince Louis of Thuringia at the age of thirteen. She was a very devout child and after her marriage her husband supported her charitable activity and religious devotions even though her relatives disapproved. The couple had three children but Louis was killed in battle during the crusades. St. Elizabeth's inlaws basically disowned her and she left the court. After securing care for her children she became a tertiary Franciscan and dedicated herself to caring for the poor including the building of a hospital in Marburg and donating a large supply of grain to German farmers during a famine. She died at the age of 24.
St. Elizabeth is the patron of bakers, charities, exiles, hospitals and beggars among others. She is usually shown in art as being dressed as a princess while carrying a basket of bread. She was the great aunt of St. Elizabeth of Portugal.
Other upcoming events and feasts include

If you would like to leave comments about the show, you can call our comment line at 719-235-5045
During the month of November our family tries to make it to a cemetery to fulfill the requirements for a plenary indulgence for souls in Purgatory. This year we decided to go to our neighborhood cemetery instead of driving all the way into town. We live in a development on what used to be cat...]]>Ianclean58:225876Announcing Laudamus Te – a New Traditional Missalhttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/announcing-laudamus-te-a-new-traditional-missal/
Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:16:34 +0000http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/?p=5870True Story My wife and I have eleven children. Several of them are under four which means that their attention span at Mass lasts until Father makes the Sign of the Cross. A couple of them can still be quiet until the Gospel and maybe, just maybe, we'll make it part way through the homily …True Story My wife and I have eleven children. Several of them are under four which means that their attention span at Mass lasts until Father makes the Sign of the Cross. A couple of them can still be quiet until the Gospel and maybe, just maybe,
My wife and I have eleven children. Several of them are under four which means that their attention span at Mass lasts until Father makes the Sign of the Cross. A couple of them can still be quiet until the Gospel and maybe, just maybe, we'll make it part way through the homily before one (or more) of them decides that they have better things to say than father.
As soon as we are out in the narthex with whichever one-volume (loud) child needed to leave, we remember that all of the sheets with the readings and propers are in the church and we don't have one and a regular missal is too bulky to juggle in one hand with a squirming child who really wants to help eat the missal in the other arm.
Finally, there is a solution. IntroducingLaudamus Te

Laudamus Te is a beautifully printed missal available as a subscription or as single issues and will cover the entire Tridentine liturgical year in six issues.
Each issue includes:

* All of the propers for each Mass (including weekdays)
* The Ordinary of the Mass
* Meditations before each Sunday's Mass
* Brief lives of the saints for their feast days
* Essays on the liturgy and Catholic tradition
* And more!

View a sample from the Laudamus Te inaugural issue
Even if you already have a 1962 missal you probably know someone who could use a convenient, compact missal. I'm actually getting my wife a Laudamus Te subscription for Christmas.]]>Ianclean58:225870Behind the Counter # 12 – Randy Hain on What’s in His Catholic Briefcasehttps://www.aquinasandmore.com/blog/behind-the-counter-12-randy-hain-on-whats-in-his-catholic-briefcase/
Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:00:07 +0000http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/?p=5857Welcome to the the Behind the Counter Catholic radio show where we take a “No Bull, just the truth” approach to the Catholic Faith. I'm Ian Rutherford, founder of Aquinasandmore.com. Thank you for taking the time to listen in today. This show is pre-recorded but you can still leave comments about this and upcoming shows …Welcome to the the Behind the Counter Catholic radio show where we take a “No Bull, just the truth” approach to the Catholic Faith. I'm Ian Rutherford, founder of Aquinasandmore.com. Thank you for taking the time to listen in today.
This show is pre-recorded but you can still leave comments about this and upcoming shows on our comment line at 719-235-5045
You can also subscribe to our show on iTunes. Just search for the Behind the Counter under podcasts.
Today is November 10th, feast of St. Leo the Great. St. Leo was born in Tuscany in the late 300's. He was ordained a deacon in his 30's and because of his eloquence and the respect everyone had for him, he was sent to Gaul to mediate a dispute between the two highest officials in the country. While he was in Gaul, Pope Sixtus III died and proving that you always get volunteered for things when you aren't at the meeting, he was elected pope in 440.
During his papacy there was a dispute over the church in Gaul where Bishop Hillary refused to submit to the Pope's authority. The pope appealed to Emperor Valentinian who in 445 issued a decree reasserting that the Pope in Rome held primacy in the Church based on his succession to Peter and the decrees of the First Council of Nicea. Bishop Hillary relented after the decree of Valentinian was issued.
During his reign, he combated several heresies including Pelagians, Manicheans and wrote a letter, called the Tome of Leo – Tome here being the word letter in Latin, not to a massive book – on Christology which was presented at the Council of Calcedon ending a dispute over Christ's nature.
In 452, Attila the Hun invaded Italy and at the gates of Rome demanded the Emperor's sister Honoria for his wife. The emperor sent three representatives including Pope Leo to negotiate with Attila and Pope Leo is credited with convincing Attila to withdraw without Honoria or any payment. No record of what agreement was made exists but tradition tells that Attila reported that a giant holding a bare sword stood behind Pope Leo during the negotiations and threatened to kill Attila and his entire army if he didn't retreat.
Unfortunately, this was really the last gasp of the failing empire. In 455 the Vandals invaded Rome and started slaughtering the citizens and burning the city. Leo again went to negotiate with the invaders and convinced them to stop the destruction. Leo died in 461 on November 10th. He was the first pope to receive the title “The Great”.
St. Leo the Great is pictured in art holding his “Tome” and sometimes shown with Attila kneeling before him.

St. Martin of Tours traditions
While I was growing up, every year in November we would brave the cold, and sometimes snow, to attend a St. Martin's Day party at a friend's home. Typically this involved a house packed with people, a huge potluck dinner and a bonfire. All of the kids would get slips of paper about the life of St. Martin and some of the traditions associated with the season and would read them around the bonfire.
Some traditions your family can do:

* Serving roast goose – legend has it that when Martin found ...]]>Ianclean56:075857